rock

rock, stone

这两个词都可表示“石头”。它们的区别是：

stone指体积较小的天然石块; rock指体积巨大的天然石块。例如:

The wall is made of stone.这堵墙是石头块砌成的。

He built his house on rock.他在岩石上建起了房子。

rock, quake, quiver, shake, shiver, tremble

这组词都可表示由于震动或受刺激而引起的振动或颤抖。它们的区别是：

在表示因寒冷或恐惧而发抖时, shake, tremble, quiver和shiver常可互换。rock和shake强调外界因素所致, quake则强调自身因素引起。在摇动的幅度上, rock>quake>quiver>shiver。在摇动的频率上, shiver>tremble>quiver>rock。在程度上, quake最弱,几乎难以觉察。tremble强调无法克服性,而shiver则强调短暂性。用于指声音时, tremble只表示声音断断续续; quiver则指音调高低或声音强弱方面的颤抖。例如:

His hands were trembling〔shaking〕 from cold.他冷得两手直哆嗦。

He was quaking〔shivering〕 in his boots at the thought.他一想到这些就怕得发抖。

The ground quaked under his feet.大地在他脚下震动。

His insides quaked at the thought.想到这一点,他心里就发慌。

The pine needles were still quivering.松针还在抖动着。

A network of ripples quivered momentarily across the surface of the still pool.顷刻间平静的池面上轻轻地泛起一层涟漪。

She tried to steady her fingers, but they quivered uncontrollably.她想稳定住自己的手指,但它们不由自主地抖动不已。

The tower rocked under the impact of the hurricane.在飓风袭击下这座高塔摇晃得厉害。

The earthquake rocked the house.地震使房屋摇动。

He was trembling with rage.他气得发抖。

The whole house trembled as the train went by.火车经过时,整座屋子都在震颤。

Such thought may make you shiver at first.这种想法一开始会使你心惊肉跳。

rock，stone，gravel，pebble

这些名词都含“石、石头”之意。

rock普通用词，指构成地表最坚硬部分或突出于周围地面的巨大岩石，也可指石头或石块。

stone普通用词，泛指井然的或经加工的各类石头，可大可小。

gravel集合名词，常指用于铺路的小石子和沙砾。

pebble多指海边、河边或沙中圆形的小卵石。